Hello everyone, here I go again. Another chapter on this love story. I just want to thank all those that reviewed, I really appreciate you taking the time to do so and I'm a big fan of constructive criticism (and wonderful compliments too, of course), which is what you supplied. I tried revising the previous chapters as suggested (if you care to read them again you might notice) but I have a little confession to make; english is not my first language and sometimes I just stare at a sentence thinking "I'm pretty sure there's something wrong there" but I can't fix it! Blame it on the unusual roots of the latin language in which I was trained in. But if anyone is kind (and brave) enough to revise it and send it back to me I will be delighted to post it. So, there you go, my justification (it's not an excuse!) for some of my mistakes. But the typos really are inexcusable (only thing I can say I usually type everything in the wee hours of the morning...), and I tried to correct them, I swear. I promise to check more thoroughly from now on. And please, please keep reviewing!

Now on a different note, one of you commented that the story had little to no dialogue and it was something that I planned very carefully. But now this is going to change a bit. I hope you like it! PA

Chapter 4 - Agreement

She had been in that same position for what felt like hours; her eyes were stubbornly trying to shut so she took another sip of her nearly undrinkable black coffee. One day down, four more to go. Four more days, she repeated in her head and for a moment she panicked and thought she would break under the pressure. She took deep long breaths until she calmed herself, saying it was only four more days and that soon she would be home with her family.

She looked around searching for something specific and found that an erratic fortress of books now protected her. She saw her needed volume working double time, as a brick in what she had decided was the southeast tower of her reign and engaged in a complicated maneuver to retrieve it. She smiled because it reminded her of the many times she played "Jenga" in primary school and she chuckled because she remembered her friends always accused her of cheating because she never lost. In truth she was cheating, she just didn't know at the time. But in her favor she had that she didn't do it on purpose, sometimes the magic would just work itself however unaware of it she were.

She flipped through the pages quickly and gave a satisfied smile once she found what she wanted. She gave a small sigh as to say to herself "here we go again" and pulled her quill closer refocusing on her unfinished task. She was trying her best, but the paragraphs didn't seem to make any sense and the words seemed to slip away from her. She felt like she was hunting runaway words and decided to lay her head down to look at them a little closer. She would catch the little buggers. Or maybe, just maybe, rest a couple minutes.


-- XXX -- XXX -- XXX --


He walked in the library feeling weary. Tonight was going to be a long night. He looked at the tall bookcases and couldn't help but admire the elegant volumes stacked in the cherry wood shelves. He loved reading, which most people would never guess, because growing up in his house it was impossible not to. His mother's collection was extensive and varied and she was affectionate and even a little overprotective of each edition. He browsed around leisurely but ultimately came up empty handed. He looked at the people still studying, thinking that possibly someone had already taken his intended book. There were very few students there, just a couple fifth years and someone buried in an avalanche of books. Someone with auburn hair.

He moved closer and analyzed the impressive construction she had erected around her. The elusive hardback he had been looking for stood placidly at the bottom of what seemed like a bridge of intricate balance. An amused smile played his lips at the sight of her sleeping amidst the books, her chest heaving up and down in a steady rhythm and her rosy lips parted slightly. He thought she looked stunningly beautiful, much like the princesses in muggle fairy tales he had seen as a kid. His breath faltered and he cursed himself for letting her affect him so.

He heard shuffling and looked up to see the fifth years leaving which made him realize it most be close to curfew. He didn't really think much of it, but he thought she might. He hesitated, unsure of what to do. He exhaled deeply knowing what was the obvious right course of action.

"- Evans." – He called tentatively. "- Evans, wake up."

There was no movement whatsoever. He moved closer and stooped to level his head with hers. He called her name again and this time she shifted a little, adjusting her head in her arm. He sighed. It seemed almost cruel to ruin such an endearing scene: a striking redheaded beauty in pleasant slumber while surrounded by her favorite company; books. He reached out his hand and gently pushed a strand of her soft wavy hair from her face.

"- Evans." – He repeated. "- Lily, come on, wake up." – His tone was low and smooth.

This time she stirred and he thought he had succeeded but after a minute of waiting with no results he saw he had been wrong. He bit his lip still unsure over what he was doing for Merlin only knew what her reaction would be like. He sighed and scooted nearer to her side.

"- Lily." – He pleaded in that soft tone as he touched her shoulder lightly, as he would a baby bird with a broken wing.


-- XXX -- XXX -- XXX --


She had been sleeping a profound dreamless sleep, the kind you can only have when your mind is so spent that it can't function for a moment longer. It was the kind of sleep that didn't make you feel rested, only late. She heard someone call her name but decided she just couldn't answer; it was too much effort. But then she heard it again and now she thought it must be a dream for the voice calling her name had the deep raspy tone she knew belonged to him. And he wouldn't be there, much less calling her name.

And then it came once more. His soothing voice saying her name, not her last name like before but her name. Lily. She thought her dream was improving but then she felt a warm hand touch her shoulder delicately, almost as if afraid of breaking her. It wasn't a dream, she thought, maybe a hallucination. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and floating gold flocks and swirling green mixed with hazel met her. That alluring mixture particular to one person only. James. She stayed quiet for some time, still trying to decide if he was really there. She studied his handsome face calmly and he complied with her silence before breaking it and ending her doubts over his reality once and for all.

"- Evans." – He said ending their staring contest. "It's almost ten. We need to go."

"- Ok, James." – She answered yawning as she straightened herself up on her chair drudgingly. He thought she was the cutest thing he would ever set his eyes on. "- I just don't know how I'm ever going to make it all the way back."

"- You called me James." – He replied looking at her with a suspicious, but nonetheless amused gaze.

"- You called me Lily." – She responded, hoping that he had indeed and that it hadn't been a figment of her delirious imagination.

"- I'll walk back with you." – He said after a moment's silence, his eyes lighting up slightly and she felt her heart skip a beat.

"- Thank you." – She said honestly and felt a small blush creep her neck.

"- Sure. Do you need all of these?" – He motioned to her reign of tomes raising an inquiring eyebrow.

"- No." – She shook her head chuckling. "- Just the north tower." – He chuckled back at her joke and she couldn't help smiling.

"- Oh, so can I take this one from the bridge base? I've been looking for it." - He returned and it was her turn to chortle.

"- No problem." – She eyed him cautiously while packing her things.

This was the longest conversation they had had in months and she was rather enjoying it. She watched surprised as he flicked his wand and the books she had mentioned stacked themselves on top of each other in an orderly fashion and floated beside him.

"- Impressive." – She said, cheekily complimenting his bit of magic although she still had sleepy eyes.

"- I try. Shall we?" – He asked in a mock gallantry tone.

"- We shall." – She answered with a small smile. She didn't feel so tired now that he was there; it was as if someone had jumpstarted her body.

They walked together talking quietly as he led the way. She could tell he knew the tricky stairs and long corridors too well for he took turns absentmindedly always knowing were they would end up next. Sometimes they would be silent and she would take advantage of that to discreetly look him over, noticing his crooked loosened tie and untucked shirt, thinking he looked even better ruffled like that. He on the other hand felt that she was more appealing like this, half asleep and soft-spoken. He would call her Floating Lily in his mind tonight, because he felt it suited her perfectly.

It was remarkable how the conversation flowed between them after everything that had passed, and they both took pleasure in the realization that it felt natural talking to each other. As they reached the entrance of their destination, he stopped and picked up the book on top of the hovering pile.

"- Good night, Lily." – He said simply, a hint of a grin insinuating in the farthest corners of his mouth. She liked the way her name sounded in his husky voice; it sent shivers down her spine.

"- You're not coming in?" – She asked startled and a little disappointed. She got an apologetic shrug for answer. "- Oh, ok. Good night, then."

She turned and said the required password, hearing his footsteps echo in the hard stone floor. Unexpectedly, even to herself, she turned back around and called him out.

"- James." – Her sweet singsong voice rang in the deserted corridor and he turned on his heel to face her, surprise clearly etched in his attractive features as he looked at her expectantly. "- Just... I missed arguing with you."

He didn't respond, just smiled at her one of those smiles that could make time stand still and nodded his head once as to agree with her. Then they each turned around and went their separate ways. But for hours to come they were thinking about the exact same thing.


-- XXX -- XXX -- XXX --


For the subsequent four days they lived and breathed exams and notes. It was a strenuous drill and by the end of it everyone within the castle walls was anxious for their promised time out. Seventh years were being hugged and hollered left and right for now they exited the protected walls of the school they had lived in for seven years and entered the harsh reality that occupied the world those day. While sixth years, like a boy with rimmed glasses and hazel eyes and his pears, went home with the prospect of enjoying their vacation before coming back to their last year.

As a girl with scarlet hair boarded the train with equal color with her heavy trunk, her head swarmed with different thoughts. Her family, her sister, her friends, they all hovered in disarray in her mind. And, of course much too constantly, a boy with warm eyes and messy hair. She thought about that night rerunning each part internally often. For the past four days they had been swamped and people barely had time to talk to each other, but they had locked eyes more than once and every time he had smiled at her, that kind of complicit smile that meant they shared something. He and his friends had pulled their traditional year-end prank today and she had laughed sincerely. Some things never changed and she was glad for that.


-- XXX -- XXX -- XXX --


For the rest of the week formulas, incantations and a girl with catlike green eyes disputed the space in his mind. He fought tiring inner battles to remain focused and won most of them. Not all of them. Before that night it was easier; he had no hope left and therefore it was easier to convince his brain not to think about her. But now, now whenever he told himself that he had to concentrate on something else, like exams for example, he heard her voice saying his name. James. She said sweetly, like it was wrapped in fine paper and he knew he wanted to hear her say it everyday. No more angry Potter's, but perfectly wrapped James' in the mornings

But now he was stepping on the locomotive that would take him back home, where there would be no redheaded girl with mermaid voices calling out for him. And he wondered if she would miss him, because he knew he would miss her. Deciding he needed to see her one last time, he slid the compartment door and excused himself hastily.


-- XXX -- XXX -- XXX --

She was having trouble fitting her things inside the compartment, already crowded with the other girls' things. They weren't inside now; it was only her and the complicated logistics of fitting three girl's yearly luggage in one place. She looked around scratching her head contemplating different solutions to the problem but before she could decide everything seemed to arrange itself properly on its own accord. She turned around to face her aide and he was there.

"- I hope that's ok." – He said pointing to the organized things safely tucked in the luggage compartment.

'- That's perfect.' – She answered, a sheepish smile on her face. "- Thank you, James." - As she said his name, in the very same way he had been replaying in his mind, he couldn't help the small smile that came to his lips.

"- So, I've been thinking and I decided I'd rather we talk." – He stated leaning casually against the doorframe giving her a stern look. She thought if her life were a novel, the author would describe him as dashing at that moment.

She looked completely puzzled and he smirked because it was exactly what he had expected. She gave him a questioning look and he obliged.

"- Well, you said you missed arguing with me, but I think I'd rather talk, if that's ok." – He explained, his golden eyes sparkling attractively. Now it was her turn to smile amusedly at him.

"- I'd say ok, but I think I might want to argue with you again soon. Maybe we could reach an agreement?" – She responded in a defiant manner.

"- An agreement? Haven't you heard; I'm insufferable!" – He told her in a sarcastic but charming way.

"- Oh, but I'm sure it can be done. Don't you know I'm stubborn?" – She responded with her eyes twinkling.

And while the train moved and people moved around in a hurry to say goodbye to their friends and other halves, two seventeen year olds agreed to talk and argue regularly in the future. And as he left her alone in her compartment to find his friends they both felt an odd sense of satisfaction and had a tingling feeling that the following year was going to be worth waiting for.